Combat ship Freedom goes to sea

Chief Petty Officer Richard Schaefer (center, foreground) and his sailors form part of the boat crew for one of the ship&apos;s rigid hull inflatable boats during a media tour of the USS Freedom, which is scheduled to leave on deployment Friday.

Chief Petty Officer Richard Schaefer (center, foreground) and his sailors form part of the boat crew for one of the ship's rigid hull inflatable boats during a media tour of the USS Freedom, which is scheduled to leave on deployment Friday.

It deployed without such a missile this time and will have to rely on two 30 mm cannons, rolling airframe defense missiles and the ship’s big 57 mm self-defense gun, in addition to helicopters.

But the mood last week along the San Diego Naval Base waterfront was one of excitement and expectation.

Coleman said he hopes the attitude catches.

“I wish people would be more excited about what we’re trying here. I think there’s this tendency to look at these ships, and look at the price tag and find a reason to think that maybe we’re off base,” he said.

“What we’re trying to do from an innovation and efficiency point of view. What we’re trying to do for our ability to maintain presence and engage with regional partners,” Coleman said. “I hope some of that carries through in what people are able to see as Freedom operates in those areas of the world.”

Chief Petty Officer Richard Schaefer (center, foreground) and his sailors form part of the boat crew for one of the ship&apos;s rigid hull inflatable boats during a media tour of the USS Freedom, which is scheduled to leave on deployment ...
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Lt. Cmdr. Charles Harris, the operations officer on the USS Freedom, at his post in the Combat Information Center during a media tour of the USS Freedom, which is scheduled to leave on deployment Friday.
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